Canon 5DS vs SX740

The Canon EOS 5DS and the Canon PowerShot SX740 HS are two digital cameras that were announced, respectively,
in February 2015 and July 2018. The 5DS is a DSLR, while the SX740 is a fixed lens compact. The cameras are based on a full frame (5DS) and a 1/2.3-inch (SX740) sensor. The 5DS has a resolution of 50.3 megapixels, whereas the SX740 provides 20.2 MP.

Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.

Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Canon EOS 5DS and the
Canon PowerShot SX740 HS? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors,
their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.

Body comparison: Canon 5DS vs SX740

An illustration of the physical size and weight of the Canon 5DS and the Canon SX740 is provided in the side-by-side display below. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three consecutive perspectives from the front, the top, and the back are available. All width, height and depth dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

The SX740 can be obtained in two different colors (black, silver), while the 5DS is
only available in black.

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size,
the Canon SX740 is considerably smaller (60 percent) than the Canon 5DS. It is worth mentioning in this context that the 5DS is splash and dust resistant,
while the SX740 does not feature any corresponding weather-sealing.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete and possibly misleading, as the SX740 has a lens built in,
whereas the 5DS is an interchangeable lens camera that requires a separate lens. Attaching the latter will add extra weight and bulk to the setup. You can compare the optics available for the 5DS and their specifications in the Canon EF Lens Catalog.

Concerning battery life, the 5DS gets 700 shots out of its LP-E6 battery,
while the SX740 can take 265 images on a single charge of its NB-13L power pack.

The following table provides a synthesis of the main physical specifications of the two cameras and other similar ones. In case you want to display and compare another camera duo, just click on the right or left
arrow next to the camera that you would like to inspect. Alternatively, you can also use the CAM-parator to
select your camera combination among a larger number of options.

Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.

Any camera decision will obviously take relative prices into account. The retail prices at the time of the camera’s release place the model in the market relative to other models in the producer’s line-up and the competition. The SX740 was launched at a lower price than the 5DS, despite having a lens built in. Usually, retail prices stay at first close to the launch price, but after several months, discounts become available. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down. Then, after the new model is out, very good deals can frequently be found on the pre-owned market.

Sensor comparison: Canon 5DS vs SX740

The size of the sensor inside a digital camera is one of the key determinants of image quality. A large sensor will tend to have larger individual pixels that provide better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixel-units in a sensor of the same technological generation. Moreover, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more control over depth-of-field in the image and, thus, the ability to better isolate a subject from the background. On the downside, larger sensors tend to be associated with larger, more expensive camera bodies and lenses.

Of the two cameras under consideration, the Canon 5DS features a full frame sensor and the Canon SX740
a 1/2.3-inch sensor. The sensor area in the SX740 is 97 percent smaller. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have a format factor of, respectively, 1.0 and 5.6. The sensor in the 5DS has a native 3:2 aspect ratio, while the one in the SX740 offers a 4:3 aspect.

With 50.3MP, the 5DS offers a higher
resolution than the SX740 (20.2MP), but the 5DS nevertheless has larger individual pixels (pixel pitch of
4.14μm versus 1.18μm for the SX740) due to its larger sensor. However, the SX740 is a much more recent model (by 3 years and 5 months) than the 5DS, and its sensor
will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that further enhance the light gathering capacity of its pixels. Coming back to sensor resolution, it should be mentioned that the SX740 has no anti-alias filter installed, so that it can capture all the detail its sensor resolves.

The Canon EOS 5DS has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 6400, which can be extended to ISO 50-12800.
The corresponding ISO settings for the Canon PowerShot SX740 HS are ISO 100 to ISO 3200 (no boost).

For many cameras, data on sensor performance has been reported by DXO Mark. This service assesses and scores the color depth ("DXO Portrait"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports") of camera sensors, and also publishes an overall camera score. The following table provides an overview of the physical sensor characteristics, as well as the sensor quality measurements for a selection of comparators.

Sensor Characteristics

Camera Model

Sensor Class

Resolution (MP)

Horiz. Pixels

Vert. Pixels

Video Format

DXO Portrait

DXO Landscape

DXO Sports

DXO Overall

Camera Model

Canon 5DS»

Full Frame

50.3

8688

5792

1080/30p

24.7

12.4

2381

87

Canon 5DS

Canon SX740«

1/2.3

20.2

5184

3888

4K/30p

-

-

-

-

Canon SX740

Canon SX730«»

1/2.3

20.2

5184

3888

1080/60p

-

-

-

-

Canon SX730

Canon 1D X Mark II«»

Full Frame

20.0

5472

3648

4K/60p

24.1

13.5

3207

88

Canon 1D X Mark II

Canon 5D Mark IV«»

Full Frame

30.1

6720

4480

4K/30p

24.8

13.6

2995

91

Canon 5D Mark IV

Canon 5DS R«»

Full Frame

50.3

8688

5792

1080/30p

24.6

12.4

2308

86

Canon 5DS R

Canon 5D Mark III«»

Full Frame

22.1

5760

3840

1080/30p

24.0

11.7

2293

81

Canon 5D Mark III

Canon 6D«»

Full Frame

20.0

5472

3648

1080/30p

23.8

12.1

2340

82

Canon 6D

Canon 5D Mark II«»

Full Frame

21.0

5616

3744

1080/30p

23.7

11.9

1815

79

Canon 5D Mark II

Canon 5D«»

Full Frame

12.7

4368

2912

-

22.9

11.1

1368

71

Canon 5D

Nikon D850«»

Full Frame

45.4

8256

5504

4K/30p

26.4

14.8

2660

100

Nikon D850

Nikon D810«»

Full Frame

36.2

7360

4912

1080/60p

25.7

14.8

2853

97

Nikon D810

Panasonic ZS80«»

1/2.3

20.2

5184

3888

4K/30p

-

-

-

-

Panasonic ZS80

Panasonic TS7«»

1/2.3

20.2

5184

3888

4K/30p

-

-

-

-

Panasonic TS7

Panasonic ZS70«»

1/2.3

20.2

5184

3888

4K/30p

19.1

10.6

106

36

Panasonic ZS70

Sony HX99«»

1/2.3

18.0

4896

3672

4K/30p

-

-

-

-

Sony HX99

Sony A99 II«»

Full Frame

42.2

7952

5304

4K/30p

25.4

13.4

2317

92

Sony A99 II

Many modern cameras cannot only take still pictures, but also record videos. Both cameras under consideration have a sensor with sufficiently fast read-out times for moving pictures, but the SX740 provides a better video resolution than the 5DS. It can shoot movie footage at 4K/30p, while the 5DS is limited to 1080/30p.

Feature comparison: Canon 5DS vs SX740

Beyond body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. For example, the 5DS has an optical viewfinder, which can be very useful when shooting in bright sunlight.
In contrast, the SX740 relies on live view and the rear LCD for framing. The following table reports on some other key feature differences and similarities of the Canon 5DS, the Canon SX740, and comparable cameras.

Core Features

Camera Model

Viewfinder (Type or '000 dots)

Control Panel (yes/no)

LCD Size (inch)

LCD Resolution ('000 dots)

LCD Attach- ment

Touch Screen (yes/no)

Mech Shutter Speed

Shutter Flaps (1/sec)

Built-in Flash (yes/no)

Built-in Image Stab

Camera Model

Canon 5DS»

optical

Y

3.2

1040

fixed

n

1/8000s

5.0

n

n

Canon 5DS

Canon SX740«

-

n

3.0

922

tilting

n

1/3200s

10.0

Y

Y

Canon SX740

Canon SX730«»

-

n

3.0

922

tilting

n

1/3200s

5.9

Y

Y

Canon SX730

Canon 1D X Mark II«»

optical

Y

3.2

1620

fixed

Y

1/8000s

16.0

n

n

Canon 1D X Mark II

Canon 5D Mark IV«»

optical

Y

3.2

1620

fixed

Y

1/8000s

7.0

n

n

Canon 5D Mark IV

Canon 5DS R«»

optical

Y

3.2

1040

fixed

n

1/8000s

5.0

n

n

Canon 5DS R

Canon 5D Mark III«»

optical

Y

3.2

1040

fixed

n

1/8000s

6.0

n

n

Canon 5D Mark III

Canon 6D«»

optical

Y

3.0

1040

fixed

n

1/4000s

4.5

n

n

Canon 6D

Canon 5D Mark II«»

optical

Y

3.0

920

fixed

n

1/8000s

3.9

n

n

Canon 5D Mark II

Canon 5D«»

optical

Y

2.5

230

fixed

n

1/8000s

3.0

n

n

Canon 5D

Nikon D850«»

optical

Y

3.2

2359

tilting

Y

1/8000s

9.0

n

n

Nikon D850

Nikon D810«»

optical

Y

3.2

1229

fixed

n

1/8000s

5.0

Y

n

Nikon D810

Panasonic ZS80«»

2330

n

3.0

1040

tilting

Y

1/2000s

10.0

Y

Y

Panasonic ZS80

Panasonic TS7«»

1170

n

3.0

1040

fixed

n

1/1300s

10.0

Y

Y

Panasonic TS7

Panasonic ZS70«»

1166

n

3.0

1040

tilting

Y

1/2000s

10.0

Y

Y

Panasonic ZS70

Sony HX99«»

638

n

3.0

922

tilting

Y

1/2000s

10.0

Y

Y

Sony HX99

Sony A99 II«»

2400

Y

3.0

1229

full-flex

n

1/8000s

12.0

n

Y

Sony A99 II

One feature that is present on the 5DS, but is missing on the SX740 is a top-level LCD.
While being, of course, smaller than the rear screen, the control panel conveys some of the essential shooting information and can be convenient for quick and easy settings verification.

The SX740 has an articulated screen that can be turned to be front-facing. This characteristic will be appreciated by
vloggers and photographers who are interested in taking selfies. In contrast, the 5DS does not have a selfie-screen.

The Canon 5DS has an intervalometer built-in. This enables the photographer to
capture time lapse sequences, such as flower blooming, a sunset or moon rise, without purchasing an external camera trigger and related software.

The 5DS writes its imaging data to Compact Flash or SDXC cards, while the SX740 uses SDXC cards. The 5DS features dual card slots, which can be very useful in case a memory card fails. In contrast, the SX740
only has one slot. Both cameras can use UHS-I cards, which provide for Ultra High Speed data transfer of up to 104 MB/s.

Connectivity comparison: Canon 5DS vs SX740

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Canon EOS 5DS and Canon PowerShot SX740 HS and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

Input-Output Connections

Camera Model

Hotshoe Port

Internal Microphone

Internal Speaker

Microphone Port

Headphone Port

HDMI Port

USB Type

WiFi Support

NFC Support

Bluetooth Support

Camera Model

Canon 5DS»

Y

mono

mono

Y

-

mini

3.0

-

-

-

Canon 5DS

Canon SX740«

-

stereo

mono

-

-

micro

2.0

Y

Y

Y

Canon SX740

Canon SX730«»

-

stereo

mono

-

-

micro

2.0

Y

Y

Y

Canon SX730

Canon 1D X Mark II«»

Y

mono

mono

Y

Y

mini

3.0

-

-

-

Canon 1D X Mark II

Canon 5D Mark IV«»

Y

mono

mono

Y

Y

mini

3.0

Y

Y

-

Canon 5D Mark IV

Canon 5DS R«»

Y

mono

mono

Y

-

mini

3.0

-

-

-

Canon 5DS R

Canon 5D Mark III«»

Y

mono

mono

Y

Y

mini

2.0

-

-

-

Canon 5D Mark III

Canon 6D«»

Y

mono

mono

Y

-

mini

2.0

Y

-

-

Canon 6D

Canon 5D Mark II«»

Y

mono

mono

Y

-

mini

2.0

-

-

-

Canon 5D Mark II

Canon 5D«»

Y

-

-

-

-

-

2.0

-

-

-

Canon 5D

Nikon D850«»

Y

stereo

mono

Y

Y

mini

3.0

Y

Y

Y

Nikon D850

Nikon D810«»

Y

stereo

mono

Y

Y

mini

3.0

Y

-

-

Nikon D810

Panasonic ZS80«»

-

stereo

mono

-

-

micro

2.0

Y

-

Y

Panasonic ZS80

Panasonic TS7«»

-

stereo

mono

-

-

micro

2.0

Y

-

-

Panasonic TS7

Panasonic ZS70«»

-

stereo

mono

-

-

micro

2.0

Y

-

-

Panasonic ZS70

Sony HX99«»

-

stereo

mono

-

-

micro

2.0

Y

Y

Y

Sony HX99

Sony A99 II«»

Y

stereo

mono

Y

Y

micro

2.0

Y

Y

Y

Sony A99 II

It is notable that the 5DS has a hotshoe, while the SX740 does not. This socket makes it possible to easily
attach optional accessories, such as an external flash gun.

Studio photographers will appreciate that the Canon 5DS (unlike the SX740) features a PC Sync socket, so that professional strobe lights
can be controlled by the camera.

Both the 5DS and the SX740 are recent models that are part of the current product line-up. The SX740 replaced the earlier Canon SX730 HS, while the 5DS does not have a direct predecessor. Further information on the two cameras (e.g. user guides, manuals), as well as related accessories, can be found on the official Canon website.

Review summary: Canon 5DS vs SX740

So what conclusions can be drawn? Which of the two cameras – the Canon 5DS or the Canon SX740 – has the upper hand? Is one clearly better than the other? A synthesis of the relative strong points of each of the models is listed below.

More affordable: Was introduced at a lower price, despite coming with a built-in lens.

More modern: Reflects 3 years and 5 months of technical progress since the 5DS launch.

If the number of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the 5DS is the clear winner of the match-up (21 : 15 points). However, the relevance of individual strengths will vary across photographers, so that you might want to apply your own weighing scheme to the summary points when reflecting and deciding on a new camera. A professional wedding photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges
from the perspective of a travel photog, and a person interested in cityscapes has distinct needs from a macro shooter. Hence, the decision which camera
is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

5DS 21:15 SX740

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Canon 5DS and the Canon SX740 place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest
Best DSLR Camera and Best Superzoom Camera listings whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the comparison of technical specifications can provide a useful overview of the capabilities of different cameras, it says little about, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance of the 5DS and the SX740 in practical situations. User reviews, such as those found at amazon, can sometimes inform about these issues, but such feedback is often incomplete, inconsistent, and biased.

Expert reviews: Canon 5DS vs SX740

This is why expert reviews are important. The table below provides a synthesis of the camera assessments of some of the best known photo-gear review sites (cameralabs, dpreview, ephotozine, imaging-resource, and photographyblog). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge,
reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.

The review scores listed above should be treated with care, though. The assessments were made in relation to similar cameras of the same technological generation. Thus, a score needs to be put into the context of the launch date and the launch price of the camera, and rating-comparisons among cameras that span long time periods or concern very differently equipped models make little sense. Also, please note that some of the review sites have changed their methodology and reporting over time.

Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? If you would like to see a different side-by-side camera review, just use the search menu below. There is also a set of direct links to comparison reviews that other users of the CAM-parator app explored.